TMU 7(5) -- April 6, 2010

UNO Forensics cracks nation's top 10 and claims first individual champ. Cameron Logsdon is UNO's first national champion in the program of oral interpretation, as the team placed eighth in the nation. In the poetry event, Allison Henri placed second and Iven Mendoza was third in the nation. Three competitors earned spots as national finalists over the weekend. The School of Communication's Instructor and Coach Abbie Syrek, Assistant Coach Vanessa Hatfield and volunteer Ryan Syrek joined 13 students in Eau Claire, Wis., as they competed in a record 45 events. Six students made quarterfinals in nine events. Five of those students, including Tessie Stednitz and Blaine Miller joined Logsdon, Mendoza and Henri as national semi-finalists -- the most ever for UNO.

Earlier, UNO Forensics also wowed a local crowd at "Night Before Nationals" in late March. The chancellor's office made a $1000 dollar contribution to Forensics travel, which was matched by CFAM Dean Gail F. Baker's office. "Abbie, this support is a small token of our appreciation of the team's exceptional performance, which I attribute directly to you," Baker said.

Reilly recognized, Ad Club prepares for competition. Associate Professor Hugh Reilly is the 2010 recipient of the Alumni Teaching Award for the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. He will be recognized at an Honors Week breakfast in April. Reilly recently published a new book on the Indian Wars and how newspapers covered conflict. Reilly teaches public relations and advertising in the School of Communication, and he is the intern coordinator. The Omaha native worked in advertising in Phoenix, Washington, D.C. and Chicago before returning to Omaha. He has published numerous articles in academic journals and the popular press. Reilly is adviser to the Ad Club. Advertising students are preparing for regional competition in St. Louis. The Ad Club has produced an impressive book for the State Farm campaign, which includes traditional and social media.

Broadcasters land two regional awards. Two School of Communication broadcasting majors will be receiving Eric Sevareid awards from the Northwest Broadcast News Association at its annual awards banquet at the Midwest Journalism Conference on April 17. Jacob Buckingham, who is interning at ABC News in New York this semester, won a general reporting award for "Tackling Youth Violence." The report aired last semester on The Omaha News, which is produced by Associate Professor Chris Allen. Josh Buda, a Nebraska Broadcasters Association scholar, won a feature award for "Poppin Penelope." The report aired last semester on Inside Art, which is produced by Gary Repair of UNO Television.

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The students will be receiving either a first place or an award of merit for each NBNA entry. The Midwest Journalism Conference will be held on April 16-17 in Bloomington, MN. Full details about the conference, including the awards banquet, are available at this site.

Elton S. Carter Award and graduate student presentations. Master of Arts Alumna Sally Buck Hull, was recognized March 22 with the Honorable Mention for her thesis, “Toys, Tots and America’s National Hearth: A Phenomenology of Children’s Television Advertising and the Parent-Child Relationship.” Her adviser, Chris Allen, also was recognized at the reception. First place this year went to a graduate student in psychology. Graduate student Jessica Morrish was awarded the Thesis Scholarship, and also was recognized for being named an Outstanding Graduate Student. Tara Doughty also received this award. Meanwhile, several of Chin-Chung Chao's graduate students from the Seminar in Communication Research class will be presenting their quantitative research projects for the second annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Activity April 6 at the Milo Bail Student Center from 7:20 to 9 p.m.: Jessica Bernhardt, "Through Thick and Thin: A Content Analysis of the Female Body Image in Magazine Advertising"; Abby Freeman, "Organizational Change: The Influence of Trust on Employee Resistance"; Shelli Inness & Cheril Lewis, "To Tweet or not to Tweet? The Impact of Twitter Use in Non-Profit Organizations and on Levels of Political Efficacy"; Andrea Iaccheri, "I'm angry, but can we, umm... still have sex? A quantitative study in verbal and non-verbal expression of anger and sexual intimacy levels within newlywed married couples." Lewis also had a presentation accepted for presentation at the National Communication Association meeting in San Francisco. Graduate student Charles Reed learned he has three papers accepted for the NCA meeting.

Academic excellence in action. Ana Cruz, assistant professor, has received a University Committee on Research and Creative Activity (UCRCA) mini-grant for, "Exploring the culture of college and academic success: Examining the first-year college experience of 2008 Summer Scholar Participants." Receiving this award is an honor, as it is acknowledgment by colleagues of the outstanding quality of her research efforts. *** Assistant Professor Lynnette Leonard received funding for the North Omaha Media Alliance (NOMA) project. Leonard also advanced a NOMA (seen here at KVNO-FM) proposal to the University of Nebraska Provost's Office as a UNO Kelly Fund proposal. Ana Cruz and Karen Dwyer's Kelly Fund proposal also advanced to Lincoln for final consideration in the important competition. *** Faculty and students are preparing for presentations at Central States Communication Association. Randy Rose, Adam Tyma and Charles Reed presented at the Spring Colloquium Series. Cynthia Robinson Moore presented at an earlier program. On April 12, Barb Pickering, Abbie Syrek, Vanessa Hatfield, Jen Rome and Katie McWilliams will present their work. Ana Cruz and former UNO Instructor Mary Anna Kidd of the University of Texas at Tyler present, "Beyond the Classroom Walls: Pushing the Limits of Community Engagement in the Intercultural Communication Classrooms" with three others. Adam Tyma and Paige Toller also are presenting a paper at the upcoming conference. *** The Omaha Press Club Show had a successful run over the weekend. Chris Allen was head writer. He and Elaine Allen have been active in the show for many years. Dave Ogden is the incoming vice president of the OPC Foundation and again coordinated the OPC scholarship recognition dinner. Director Jeremy Lipschultz worked with alumnus and board member Howard Marcus on an auction to raise funds for scholarships -- UNO Athletics donated a pair of season UNO Hockey tickets. *** Adam Tyma was a source for a front page Omaha World-Herald story highlighting effective use of laptops in the large lecture Introduction to Mass Communication. *** Alumna Amanda Wagner Buzzell currently is teaching online classes in the Professional Writing Program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. "I'm looking forward to the term that begins in May, as I will be teaching the public relations course in the classroom," she said. Wagner Buzzell and Jason Buzzell recently wrote Lecturer Karen Weber. They moved to Edmonton in May. Jason Buzzell is a Web Content Specialist for the Alberta Motor Association. *** Instructor Kathy Tewhill's class continues to write and edit a newsletter for the Alzheimer's Association. The News Editing class is designing the publication this semester. Nichole Baugh is the intern on the project. Tewhill received eight e-mails from support group and board members saying they were impressed with the fall semester issue of the newsletter. "Thank you for telling our stories," wrote one man who has the disease. "We are making a difference, slowly but surely," Tewhill said. "The newsletter can also be accessed from the chapter's Web site now, too." *** Speech Center Coordinator and Instructor Marlina Davidson and Consultant and Instructor Kate Rempfer hosted Wayne State Lambda Pi Eta members and their advisor March 26. UNO launched a chapter of the LPE Communication Honor Society in 2008. The Wayne State group toured the School of Communication and joined the UNO chapter for a working lunch. UNO Co-Presidents Andrea Ciurej and Anna Berlett provided a chapter overview. *** Chin-Chung Chao's panel, "Table Talk about Teaching and Learning: Building Bridges between Pedagogical Practices and Cultural Identity," has been accepted at the 96th National Communication Association convention in San Francisco this November. Associate Professor Teresa Lamsam, director of UNO's Native American Studies program, will be joined by Assistant Professors Cynthia Robinson-Moore, Ana Cruz, and two faculty members at other universities. *** Stephanie Pravecek, the School of Communication student worker, was appointed Executive Treasurer for UNO's Student Council. She is a major in the College of Business Administration.

The photo gallery. Instructor Kate Rempfer, a UNO Speech Center consultant, spoke to 30 workshop attendees February 19 in Lincoln at an event hosted by University of Nebraska Office Professional Association (UNOPA). “Communication Skills for Everyone” focused on how people communicate, listen and should offer or receive feedback. Participants had the opportunity to assess their own communication skills and learned that listening is one of the most important aspects of communicating with each other. "The listening assessment was an eye-opener for many people, and the small group activity was entertaining as well as enlightening," the group's newsletter reported. "The positive evaluations that participants completed tell us that much more was gained from this workshop than just the approved three in-service hours towards a PSP certificate."

The School of Communication Advisory Committee developed an excellent and efficient plan for updating the Mission, Vision and Goals document. Assistant Director and Speech Communication Division Coordinator Karen Dwyer led a March 26 workshop that advanced the document to final faculty approval in April. The revision renews faculty commitment to student focus, academic excellence and community engagement by linking theory and practice to professional outcomes.

The School of Communication has a new conversation piece in its main lobby -- an Associated Press Teletype Machine used during the 1960s at KMTV. Long-time reporter and photographer Dave Hamer, who later taught in the UNO Department of Communication, says this AP teletype machine was at the old KMTV, 2615 Farnam, until 1968. The teletype machine was then put on display when the Omaha Press Club opened around November 1970. It remained there until the 2008 remodeling, when it was then donated through alumnus and OPC Foundation President John Prescott to the School.

Bob Coate of KIOS announced that his recording of David Mathison's presentation, which was sponsored by the UNO School of Communication, will air at noon April 26. Mathison published the book Be The Media and operates BeTheMedia.com. His appearance in Omaha also featured a curriculum session with faculty, a dinner at the Omaha Press Club, a UNO hockey game and a presentation at Creighton University. The School of Communication, which received funding from its University Departmental Teaching Award, also shared costs with OPC.

Upcoming events.

April
6 - Graduate Student Presentations, MBSC, 7:20 p.m.

8 - Faculty Honors Convocation, MBSC, 7 a.m. & Student Honors, Strauss, 4 p.m.

12 - Communication Colloquium, ASH 143, 12 p.m.

16 - OPC Scholarship Dinner, Omaha Press Club, 5:30 p.m.
22 - High School Media Conference & PRSSA National Organ Donor Awareness Event, MBSC, 11:30 a.m.

23 - Teaching Circle/Research Triangle/Engagement Links Celebration, MBSC, 3 p.m.

Communication Week Events (April 26-29)
26 - KIOS Noon Forum, David Mathison, 91.5 FM, 12 p.m. & Persuasion Posters, MBSC Dodge, 4 p.m.

27 - Mav Solutions, MBSC Chancellor's Room, 4 p.m.
29 - Scholarship Breakfast, MBSC Chancellor's Room, 9 a.m.;Alumni Panel, MBSC Dodge Room, 1 p.m.; 55th Annual Communication Awards Banquet, Thompson Alumni Center, 6 p.m.
29 & 30 - National Student Advertising Competition, St. Louis, MO.

May
4 - UNO Service Awards, MBSC, 11:30 a.m.

7 - Commencement Breakfast, Thompson Alumni Center, 9 a.m.; Commencement, Civic Center, 2 p.m.